Adjustable, foldable, telescoping structure



1966 0. M. RAINWATER ADJUSTABLE, FOLDABLE, TELESCOPING STRUCTURE Filed May 4, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0am! MI4INW4T BY ATTOQVEV Jan. 4, 1966 RAINWATER 3,227,111

ADJUSTABLE, FOLDABLEQ TELESCOPING STRUCTURE Filed May 4, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0MAN M 4wm4rze Jan. 4, 1966 o. M. RAINWATER ADJUSTABLE, FOLDABLE, TELESCOPING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1964 INVENTOR. de/mw M, lQJ/A/WATEQ BY United States Patent 3,227,111 ADJUSTABLE, FOLDABLE, TELESCOPING STRUCTURE Orman M. Rainwater, 3364 S. Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,442 2 Claims. (Cl. 108-129) This invention relates to tubular fold able frames for forming structures and enclosures of different sizes and types.

In my Patent No. 3,128,727, of April 14, 1964, a table and stand structure made of U-shaped telescoping frame, members which can be folded into a compact package is disclosed and claimed. The present invention utilizes the same basic frame assembly which may be folded into the dimensions substantially those of one of the frames with a small additional thickness. To a section of each of two of the U-shaped frame members, a fabric or cloth is attached to form a cover. In the simplest form, two opposite edges of the fabric is sewn or hemmed around the horizontal sections of two frame members to form a top, while in other modifications one or more side curtains may be provided by dropping a portion of the fabric cover over a side surface of the frame or an additional frame may be inserted in the hemlike edge of the fabric.

With a simple cloth cover or sides attached in this manner, the frame may be easily folded in the manner shown in my above-mentioned patent, the fabric sliding along the enclosed cross members to permit the folding action. When the frame is unfolded, the cloth may be simply slid back and the top is immediately formed. Since the tubing telescopes, it is simple to produce different pitches of the cloth top. To increase the size of a structure, a plurality of the basic frame members may be telescoped together to form a polygonalsided structure. p

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the erecting and folding of a structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved tubular telescoping structures or enclosures of different types.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure or structure using a plurality of U-shaped tubular members which telescope and fold.

A better understanding may be had of this invention from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing one step in the folding operation;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the structure after the final folding operation is completed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enclosure having one side curtain;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cover and side curtain as shown in FIG. 3 in a single plane;

' FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an enlarged structure utilizing the basic frame sections;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view partly in cross-section of the connecting brace shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention having a peaked roof;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a modification of the shape of the frame shown in FIG. 8;

3,227,111 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a frame structure using an increased number of basic U-shaped frames.

Referring now to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify the same elements, a cloth or fabric top 5 has opposite ends 6 and 7 sewed or hemmed around the horizontal portions of U-shaped tubular frame members 9 and 10. The ends of the members 9 and 10 are inserted in the ends of larger diameter sized U-shaped members 12 and 13. This is the same basic frame as shown in FIG. 1 of my above-mentioned patent, and this frame may be folded in substantially the same manner as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the abovementioned patent and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A of this application.

In folding the frame, the member 12 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 15, and the member 13 is rotated in the opposite direction as shown by arrow 14. The frames are then in the position shown in FIG. 2, the cloth top 5 sliding along the horizontal cross-sections of frames 9 and 10. Another degree rotation of either frame 12 or 13 will produce the compact package shown in FIG. 2A. When the frame is unfolded, the fabric or top 5 may he slid back into position as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring, now, to FIG. 3, this structure has the frames 94th and 12-13 as in FIG. 1, but has a side curtain 17 which is an addition or extension of the top 5. The addition of this side curtain 17 does not, however, prevent the folding action as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Although only one side curtain is shown in FIG. 3, it is understood that side curtains can be provided for all four sides of the structure together with a bottom and still fold as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A.

A plan view of the top 5 and side curtain 1'7 with the curtain extended in the same plane as top 5 is shown in FIG. 4, it being noted that two hems or headings are provided as shown at 24 and 22 and a facing at 21 in FIG. 5. Instead of using the section 17 as a side curtain, as shown in FIG. 3, the enclosure may be extended by using a brace 25, the couplings of which are slidable on the cross member of section 10 and the cross member of an additional section 27 having a base section 28. The cover is notched at 29 and 3t) for the couplings 31 and 32. This structure has the bottom sections 12 and 13 and upper sections 9 and 19. The details of the brace 25 are shown in FIG. 7 in cross-section as being comprised of two hollow rods 33 and 34 which telescope into a coupling 35 having a set screw 36. In this manner, the structure may be extended and also by varying the height of the upper sections 9, 1t), and 27 by different amounts of telescoping, different slopes or pitches may be given to the cloth cover sections. In every structure, the tension provided by the cloth sections maintains rigidity of the structures by increasing the friction of the telescoping sections. Furthermore, either the base or top members diverge or converge to increase the friction between sections which avoids set screws or latches to hold the sections together with respect to one another.

In FIG. 8, basic stand members 42 and 43 are shown supporting upper sections 44 and 45, which is the basic frame shown in the prior figures, except that the smaller diameter sections form the base. A peaked roof type of enclosure is formed with this basic frame by using rafter members 47, 48, 49, and 50, these members being pivotally coupled to the horizontal cross members of sections 44 and 45. The peak of the roof is formed by cross member 52. In this modification, a cover may extend over the two roof sections and may have side sections 53,

3 54, and 55 if desired to form a more complete enclosure. The fourth side may also have a curtain.

An end view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 9, while FIG. 10 is an end view of a different shape of the enclosure of FIG. 8 produced by varying the amount of telescoping of the tubes. In FIG. 11, a cross section of the couplings for rod 48 is shown, these couplings consisting of tubular sections 51 and S7 with pins 54 and 55, respectively, inserted in the ends of cylindrical tubing 56. The pins and the tubular sections are integral.

Referring, now, to FIG. 12, an arrangement of base tubular U-shaped members 60, 61, 62, and 63 are shown interconnected by upper U-shaped tubular members 65, 66, 6'7, and 68. This arrangement forms an eight-sided structure which can have a cloth or fabric member 70 attached around the horizontal portions of sections 66 and 68 and a cloth or fabric member 71 attached around the horizontal portions of members 65 and 67. This frame structure provides a larger enclosure but has the basic features of foldability shown in the above figures. Side curtains can be provided or the top may be in a single piece of the shape of the structure. This structure may also be folded as described above. Although this structure does not ordinarily require bracing, a pair of braces 72 and 73 f the type illustrated in FiG. 11 may be used when light weight frame sections of large size are used. Also, by adding additional pairs of U-shaped sections, larger structures may be formed.

The construction described above as shown in the drawings provides a unit of varied shapes and sizes and may have only a top or a top with sides depending on the degree of enclosure desired. The structures are quickly assembled and disassembled, the final units requiring a small amount of storage space.

I claim:

1. A foldable structure comprising a plurality of U- shaped tubular units, each unit having two leg sections and a section interconnecting one end of each of said leg sections, the leg sections of one of said units telescoping within a respective leg section of two other units, and the leg sections of another unit telescoping within the other leg sections of said two other units, one of said two other units and said first-mentioned unit being adapted to rotate about the leg sections of said other units to first fold said units into substantially a single plane and then to continue said rotating to fold said units into two substantially parallel planes, and a flexible fabric, said fabric being attached to and interconnecting sections of two of said tubular units, said fabric being adapted to slide along said interconnecting sections and having a 4 length extending said fabric beyond one of said interconnecting sections, an additional pair of tubular units being provided together with means for rigidly interconnecting the interconnecting section of said additional unit to the interconnecting section of one of said first-mentioned units, said flexible fabric extending over the outer interconnecting sections of all of said tubular units.

2. A foldable telescoping frame structure comprising four U-shaped tubular units, each unit having two parallel leg sections and a section interconnecting one end of each of said leg sections, two of said units having their internal leg diameters of substantially the same size as the external leg diameters of the other two units and adapted to be telescoped therein, the two legs of each one of said units having the smaller diameter legs extending into one leg of each of said other units to form a rectangular supporting frame, two of said units being rotatable on the smaller diameter leg sections of said other units to first permit the folding of said units into substantially a single plane and then to fold said units into two substantially parallel planes, and a flexible fabric having the ends thereof surrounding two of the interconnecting sections of the tubular units and slidable along said interconnecting sections during the folding of said units and having a length extending said fabric beyond one of said interconnected sections, said flexible fabric having its dimensions sufficient to cover one side of said structure, an additional pair of said U-shaped tubular units being provided, means for rigidly connecting the interconnecting section of said additional unit with the interconnecting section of one of said first-mentioned units, said flexible fabric being connected to three interconnecting sections of said units and slidable along all of said interconnecting sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 914,239 3/1909 Buliington 108-128 2,095,097 10/1937 Krisaher 108128 2,276,308 3/1942 Hugh 46-15 2,836,860 6/1958 Staropoli 108- -153 X 3,128,727 4/ 1964 Rainwater -108-1.29

FOREIGN PATENTS 990,604 9/ 1951 France. 1,089,849 3/1955 France. 1,117,316 5/1956 France. 1,229,892 9/1960 France.

675,355 7/1952 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDABLE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF USHAPED TUBULAR UNITS, EACH UNIT HAVING TWO LEGS SECTIONS AND A SECTION INTERCONNECTING ONE END OF EACH OF SAID LEG SECTION, THE LEG SECTIONS OF ONE OF SAID UNITS TELESCOPING WITHIN A RESPECTIVE LEG SECTION OF TWO OTHER UNITS, AND THE LEG SECTIONS OF ANOTHER UNIT TELESCOPING WITHIN THE OTHER LEG SECTIONS OF SAID TWO OTHER UNITS, ONE OF SAID TWO OTHER UNITS AND SAID FIRST-MENTIONED UNIT BEING ADAPTED TO ROTATE ABOUT THE LEG-SECTIONS OF SAID OTHER UNITS TO FIRST FOLD SAID UNITS INTO SUBSTANTIALLY A SINGLE PLANE AND THEN TO CONTINUE SAID ROTATING TO FOLD SAID UNITS INTO TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANES, AND A FLEXIBLE FARBIC, SAID FABRIC BEING ATTACHED TO AND INTERCONNECTING SECTIONS OF TWO OF SAID TUBULAR UNITS, SAID FABRIC BEING ADAPTED TO SLIDE ALONG SAID INTERCONNECTING SECTIONS AND HAVING A LENGTH EXTENDING SAID FABRIC BEYOND ONE OF SAID INTERCONNECTING SECTIONS, AN ADDITIONAL PAIR OF TUBULAR UNITS BEING PROVIDED TOGETHER WITH MEANS FOR RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING THE INTERCONNECTING SECTION OF SAID ADDITIONAL UNIT TO THE INTERCONNECTING SECTION OF ONE OF SAID FIRST-MEMTIONED UNITS, SAID FLEXIBLE FABRIC EXTENDING OVER THE OUTER INTERCONNECTING SECTIONS OF ALL OF SAID TUBULAR UNITS. 